Cubs Rumors: Alex Bregman emerges as trade target, but it won't be easy

There was a time, brief though it was, that Chicago Cubs fans believed Alex Bregman would be heading to the North Side for the 2025 MLB season.

Though that pursuit ended when the Cubs wouldn't step up their offer to match the Boston Red Sox's $40 million AAV proposal, the chances of Bregman spending some part of this season in Chicago aren't dead in the water just yet.

According to ESPN reporters Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, Bregman could be made available by the Red Sox at next month's trade deadline, should they not be able to improve on their current .500 record. The reporting duo listed Bregman as their best available trade candidate this season, noting that his impressive production prior to straining his quad in late May is more than impressive enough to attrach the attention of serious contenders with hole in their lineup.

However, a combination of factors could keep him out of arms reach for the Cubs.

Alex Bregman's contract, other suitors will render Cubs trade unlikely

When listing Bregman's top suitors, McDaniel and Passan listed the Cubs first, followed by the the Detroit Tigers and the two New York teams.

That's an impressive — and non-exhaustive — list of suitors, all of whom have the assets and proper motivation needed to swing a deal for a player of Bregman's caliber mid-season, injury concerns be damned.

Of course, the Tigers were one of the other finalists for Bregman over the offseason, and they still have a need at third base over their current platoon featuring old friend Zach McKinstry. The Yankees and Mets, meanwhile, have similar needs at the hot corner, with Jazz Chisholm moving off second base again to cover the former's hole and Brett Baty struggling to hold down the fort for the latter.

Even if the Cubs, who are similarly in need of a third base answer with Matt Shaw struggling once again, are willing to pony up the prospect cost to get the Red Sox to part with Bregman, the financial hit could prove prohibitive.

Bregman's $40 million AAV would blow Dansby Swanson's team-leading $25.3 million figure out of the water, and given that he has two option years left at the same salary, the Cubs could be wary of acquiring a 31-year-old with recent injury issues.

Plus, other third basemen will be available at the deadline, potentially including Arizona Diamondbacks stalwart Eugenio Suarez, a similar power threat from the right side of the plate.

On paper, Bregman would be a perfect fit on this Cubs roster. In practice, though, there may be one too many hurdles to overcome to get him in Chicago by July 31.